I have been having a headache for over 3 weeks now with nausea and vomiting. At a rutine eye exam I was told I had a swollen optic nerve in my right eye and am going for an MRI on Tuesday. This is the 4th place I have posted and can't even seem to get any replies with similar stories. I'm starting to get a little worried after going into the ER twice for this and can't seem to get any relief from the pain. Anyone with any similar stories that they can share. And my biggest question I can't seem to get answered is could this headache be connected to the swollen optic nerve? I also have some visual field loss and some balence issues. Hopefully the MRI will tell me something but in the meantime I would like to see if there is anyone with similar symptoms/stories anything really. Thank you in advance.

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12 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Please read. Headache lasting 3 weeks and counting.I have been having a headache for over 3 weeks now with nausea and vomiting. At a rutine eye exam I was told I had a swollen optic nerve in my right eye and am going for an MRI on Tuesday. This is the 4th place I have posted and can't even seem to get any replies with similar stories. I'm starting to get a little worried after going into the ER twice for this and can't seem to get any relief from the pain. Anyone with any similar stories that they can share. And my biggest question I can't seem to get answered is could this headache be connected to the swollen optic nerve? I also have some visual field loss and some balence issues. Hopefully the MRI will tell me something but in the meantime I would like to see if there is anyone with similar symptoms/stories anything really. Thank you in advance.

Thanks for the reply. When I was younger I was told that I get migraines. The only thing is I have never had one last for more then a few days and as I got older they started to decrease in frequency. The thing that worries me it how intense the pain is and that it dosent let up. It's constant and nothing seems to help. I have been to the ER twice in the last 2 weeks for it and everything they give dosent seems to help. It has been going on now for about 22 days total and so I figured it wouldn't be a migraine.

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Report This| Share this:Please read. Headache lasting 3 weeks and counting.Thanks for the reply. When I was younger I was told that I get migraines. The only thing is I have never had one last for more then a few days and as I got older they started to decrease in frequency. The thing that worries me it how intense the pain is and that it dosent let up. It's constant and nothing seems to help. I have been to the ER twice in the last 2 weeks for it and everything they give dosent seems to help. It has been going on now for about 22 days total and so I figured it wouldn't be a migraine.

My fiance has had a migraine for 12 weeks tomorrow. We have seen more and more doctors and he has taken tons of medications but nothing seems to be helping. It is awful for him and for me to see him like this. We are going to see a headache specialist tomorrow and hoping for some answers. We are looking into the Botox injections and acupuncture therapy now. I really hope you can get some help and that yours gets better soon.

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Report This| Share this:Please read. Headache lasting 3 weeks and counting.My fiance has had a migraine for 12 weeks tomorrow. We have seen more and more doctors and he has taken tons of medications but nothing seems to be helping. It is awful for him and for me to see him like this. We are going to see a headache specialist tomorrow and hoping for some answers. We are looking into the Botox injections and acupuncture therapy now. I really hope you can get some help and that yours gets better soon.

Some, but not all, of my migraines have an aura beforehand. I find that anything that mimics the effect of the aura also triggers a migraine. If the swollen optic nerve is causing visual symptoms similar to those you experience with migraines, having a migraine because of it makes sense. Hopefully, the MRI will tell you if there is anything else contributing to your headaches. A cold compress over your eyes and another at the back of your neck while you lie down in a dark, quiet room might provide more relief than any meds until you get your diagnosis of the cause of the headaches. Good luck!

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Report This| Share this:Please read. Headache lasting 3 weeks and counting.Some, but not all, of my migraines have an aura beforehand. I find that anything that mimics the effect of the aura also triggers a migraine. If the swollen optic nerve is causing visual symptoms similar to those you experience with migraines, having a migraine because of it makes sense. Hopefully, the MRI will tell you if there is anything else contributing to your headaches. A cold compress over your eyes and another at the back of your neck while you lie down in a dark, quiet room might provide more relief than any meds until you get your diagnosis of the cause of the headaches. Good luck!

Thanks I'll try that. I think I have gone and freaked my self out looking stuf up on the Internet. I'm pretty sure that it will come back normal and nothing will be wrong. I'm going to call tomarrow and see if I can get the results. My father works with a lady who had all the same symptoms plus the swollen optic nerve and after haveing all the test done and seeing all the specialist she was told that her optic nerve was just swollen and nothing was wrong and her symptoms just went away. Mane I'll be that lucky.

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Report This| Share this:Please read. Headache lasting 3 weeks and counting.Thanks I'll try that. I think I have gone and freaked my self out looking stuf up on the Internet. I'm pretty sure that it will come back normal and nothing will be wrong. I'm going to call tomarrow and see if I can get the results. My father works with a lady who had all the same symptoms plus the swollen optic nerve and after haveing all the test done and seeing all the specialist she was told that her optic nerve was just swollen and nothing was wrong and her symptoms just went away. Mane I'll be that lucky.

I hope all goes well for you! Checking your symptoms on-line can be useful, but only if you don't freak yourself out enough to cause yourself more problems;) With my family history, it's easy for me to freak out about any new or worsening symptoms, but I've found that looking for the minimal explaination first is best for me. I'll make a list of things I find that it could be, then go to my doctor to be tested for the least problematic of the lot. He knows this, and will ask to see my list. "Oh, this is charming. The internet is providing me with a whole slew of new hypochondriacs, and you want to go from least to worst, same as I'd do with a new patient who never used the internet." He usually does go from least to worst, too, but with my family history, he'll sometimes order more tests than he would for any other patient. "While I've got you here, let's rule out two or three other things on your list, just for peace of mind."

My rule of thinb is that if my on-line research starts to scare me, I stop immediately and go to my doctor. It's HIS job to diagnose me, not mine.

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Report This| Share this:Please read. Headache lasting 3 weeks and counting.I hope all goes well for you! Checking your symptoms on-line can be useful, but only if you don't freak yourself out enough to cause yourself more problems;) With my family history, it's easy for me to freak out about any new or worsening symptoms, but I've found that looking for the minimal explaination first is best for me. I'll make a list of things I find that it could be, then go to my doctor to be tested for the least problematic of the lot. He knows this, and will ask to see my list. "Oh, this is charming. The internet is providing me with a whole slew of new hypochondriacs, and you want to go from least to worst, same as I'd do with a new patient who never used the internet." He usually does go from least to worst, too, but with my family history, he'll sometimes order more tests than he would for any other patient. "While I've got you here, let's rule out two or three other things on your list, just for peace of mind."

My rule of thinb is that if my on-line research starts to scare me, I stop immediately and go to my doctor. It's HIS job to diagnose me, not mine.

have had severe sinus issues in the past which actually resulted in an infection that almost killed me. Didnt respond to antibiotics. Most severe symptom was headache. Dr described it as a migraine's migraine. Heavy doses of morphine barely touched it. The infection had to be removed physically. The most severe pain was around and above eyes. I don't think you have anything serious but always remember how much nerve activity is centered around your brain. My problem was that I went to the company dr. who didn't listen to me when I told her that I had a problem getting rid of infection. Most important thing of all find a doctor you can trust. At times, your life may be in their hands.

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Report This| Share this:Please read. Headache lasting 3 weeks and counting.have had severe sinus issues in the past which actually resulted in an infection that almost killed me. Didnt respond to antibiotics. Most severe symptom was headache. Dr described it as a migraine's migraine. Heavy doses of morphine barely touched it. The infection had to be removed physically. The most severe pain was around and above eyes. I don't think you have anything serious but always remember how much nerve activity is centered around your brain. My problem was that I went to the company dr. who didn't listen to me when I told her that I had a problem getting rid of infection. Most important thing of all find a doctor you can trust. At times, your life may be in their hands.

Did you ever figure out what was going on with your migrains? I was told that my optic nerves were swollen too. I was diagnoses with Psuedo Tumor celebri. The spinal fluid in my body was not being absorbed as fast as it was making it, causing the pressure in my head and eyes. I hope that you got it all sorted out.

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Report This| Share this:Please read. Headache lasting 3 weeks and counting.Did you ever figure out what was going on with your migrains? I was told that my optic nerves were swollen too. I was diagnoses with Psuedo Tumor celebri. The spinal fluid in my body was not being absorbed as fast as it was making it, causing the pressure in my head and eyes. I hope that you got it all sorted out.

Hi, I've had a migraine for at least four weeks and have been in the hospital for them before, if you have been given a pain medication such as a narcotic it will make it worse, it will give you what is called a rebound migraine, it makes matters worse. There is a "cocktail" shot that doctors give it consists of three shots, zofram, phenegran, and I'm sorry I don't remember the third one, but if you mention it to a doctor they might know. I hope this helps someone. Sometimes this helps me.

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Report This| Share this:Please read. Headache lasting 3 weeks and counting.Hi, I've had a migraine for at least four weeks and have been in the hospital for them before, if you have been given a pain medication such as a narcotic it will make it worse, it will give you what is called a rebound migraine, it makes matters worse. There is a "cocktail" shot that doctors give it consists of three shots, zofram, phenegran, and I'm sorry I don't remember the third one, but if you mention it to a doctor they might know. I hope this helps someone. Sometimes this helps me.

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